Summer Fallen

The brightness of the white stars can’t compare to the light in her smile. Her teeth and eyes gleam against moonlight while a silver hue illuminates off her blonde hair. Cierra can’t believe Dawn’s sisters don’t see this beauty she holds. Their laughs escape into the warm air. She wonders how it feels for Dawn to have an accompanying voice after getting used to being ignored for thousands of years.

“Anything exciting happen today?” Dawn says.

“Same old, same old. I woke up, got dressed, shoved a slice of bread in my mouth and tried to get to my bus before it left me behind. Then school, boring lectures, came back home, homework, and slept. I’m hoping college will be better than this,” Cierra answers.

“What’s college? I’ve heard of it and saw people go to these colleges, but they just look like a bunch of buildings,” Dawn adds.

A laugh uncontrollably jumps out of Cierra’s throat. “It’s a big land where people learn new things to get a job.”

Dawn looks forward curiously. The glowing, moon-lit field of grass crunches underneath their shoes. “I never had to go to college when I learned my role in this world.”

“Because elemental powers can’t really get you a job out there. I mean, it technically could, but people would take advantage of you to get what they want.”

The curiosity in Dawn’s eyes dim to a soft sadness. “I think I’d prefer to be ignored than to go through that.” She looks at the other girl. “But I’m glad to have met a friend like you.”

“I’m glad I can fill up that empty space.”

Her smile made the summer air even warmer.

They continue strolling across the dark field when Dawn and Cierra lie down on top of it and spread their arms and legs, their movements embedding themselves in the soft grass. Dozens of fireflies burst from the ground and fly above them, twinkling like the starry sky. They giggle like little children, enjoying every small moment they can take in. Dawn catches one in her hand and holds it close, feeling it crawl around and finding comfort from its blinking light in the darkness within her hands. “I’m going to miss this,” she says.

“You’ll be back. A year goes by incredibly fast.”

Dawn stands up and dismisses Cierra’s comment while carrying the blinking bug. They approach the border to the forest. She gazes out at it. “Phst. It doesn’t when you have to share it with three sisters. Lily wants to arrive early every year, Crystal finds it amusing to ruin peoples’ days, and Amber is stubborn and wants everything to be perfect as long as possible. I’m shocked Amber hasn’t kicked my butt yet for the weather today. She’d want control of the leaves by now so she can make her entrance more eccentric.” She picks something up. “Oh, would you look at that, I guess she’s given me the hint.”

“What did you find?” Cierra asks inquisitively.

Dawn turns around with a small, dead brown leaf, its tiny stem pinching between her fingers. “The Fall Equinox is here soon and already she’s pressuring me to get out.” Her fingers tighten the stem and a warm glow spreads up its body.

Cierra speaks up to stop her, but she holds back. She thinks Dawn deserves to release her anger with the way her sisters treat her.

“They never welcome me, speak to me, or even spend time with me. They practically don’t want to be in my presence, yet they don't hesitate to nit-pick every fault I make.” The glowing leaf bursts into flame and she crushes it in her hand. Cierra watches the orange cinders fall against the conflicting silver moonlight. With the air loud from the creatures of night, she doesn’t even hear them land on the ground. Dawn walks ahead. Cierra catches up with her. “You know how I said I would rather be ignored than taken advantage of?” Dawn asks.

“Yeah?”

“I think I changed my mind. I’d rather live here and be treated like a goddess by humans than garbage by my sisters.”

Cierra notices Dawn gritting her teeth behind her closed mouth. A bright flash of heat lightning sparks the sky, like a thunderstorm suddenly exploding to life. “Humans can be just as crappy, too. It’ll look like they love you at first, but then you’ll most likely be kidnapped by the government and get experimented on. Plus, I’m not sure how your Mother would feel about you getting involved with humans.”

Dawn looks at her. “Cierra, I’ve seen what humans have done to each other, and I know what it’s like.” Her walking becomes slow. “Imagine being locked in darkness with no sense of communication for nine months every year. You’re all alone, only your thoughts to keep you company. Beyond the darkness, I can hear my sisters’ voices taunting me. Starvation from food is deadly, but starvation from love can kill you faster. They always spend time together, but never make time for me. But then Mother says it’s my turn to rule the land. Then they just roll their eyes and try to leave respectfully.”

“And your mom hasn’t done anything about it?” Cierra says.

Dawn shakes her head with obvious exasperation. “She could, but apparently she thinks that because I rule during the brightest time of the year, then I can handle being in darkness when my sisters’ rule.”

Cierra stops walking and takes in the singing animals, sparkling fireflies, and the open world of space. “Is this really the only time you get to experience real life?”

Dawn halts too. “Yes. When it isn’t our turn, Mother places us in a world of darkness with only a night sky to keep us company, as if we don’t exist, because we technically don’t when only one of us is on Earth. You don’t see any sign of Crystal when I’m here.” She looks down and spots another brown leaf. “But apparently, some of us like to sneak out of our rooms early.” She stomps on the leaf and faces her friend. “But ever since we met, I have something else to look forward to besides the lasting sunlight.”

Her words take Cierra back to a sun-filled sky; the air fresh after an invasion of a malicious thunderstorm. Condensation rose from the wet ground and the grass sparkled with dozens of rain droplets. The cool air from the cold front brought a comforting relief from the heat.

“Cierra! What’s taking you so long?” Her brother’s voice rang in the empty woods from their backyard. Their frisbee that flew away from them was found by Dawn and in her hands. She held her arm out benevolently.

“Why aren’t you wearing something lighter?” Cierra asked her, taking the frisbee back.

Dawn peeked down at her long-sleeved white shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. “Does this look bad?”

“No! Not at all. It’s 90 degrees outside. Aren’t you hot?”

Dawn shrugged with a smile. “The heat never bothered me, anyway.”

Her own version of a Frozen reference was what incited their friendship, bringing them to this field today. Every summer, Dawn walked all over the country, observing her kingdom as it dazzled in her prestigious, glorious reign. But she had no one to keep her company. The wildlife watched her with cautious stares but ran away once she got too close. Though her sisters weren’t with her, she always felt their ghostly thoughts simmer the air. She sensed the stabbing words they used while they talked behind her back. Though her kingdom was practically glowing with vibrant colors, the darkness she felt creeping inside her couldn’t be burned away, no matter how blinding the sunlight was. On days she felt the most alone, night would arrive early with black thunderheads that threatened the land with heavy rains, wind, and lightning. When her sisters’ animosity kept building up into a dangerous fire, Dawn’s anger flashed out like a monsoon, hoping each wave of rain would wipe out the fire entirely.

After her reign came to an end, she was sent back to her world, but the more she returned there, the dimmer the moon and stars became. Every night was empty, with only clouds as dark as the night itself decorating the sky. In her isolation one time, she felt a sudden warmth bloom inside her.

What’s happening? Is someone finally going to visit me? She wondered.

But when she closed her eyes, she immediately saw where that warmth was coming from. It was Lily’s reign. She swam in a lake, each drop of water on her sparkling body like a precious jewel. Her words were a combination of cold adjectives and Dawn’s name. Then Dawn felt the same warmth later in time. She saw Amber sitting in a tree decorated with warmly lit leaves. She touched them and again mentioned Dawn’s name, but not as warm as the leaves in the autumn light. Then during the reign of the cold kingdom, Crystal played in a snowy forest, comparing her pure beauty to the dreary, heavy heat of her opposite sister.

Their laughter quietly rung in her ears; their smiles shined brilliantly like their seasons’ mornings.

Standing before Cierra that day, the light in her kingdom finally seemed alive. She felt loved. For once. Someone heard her voice. Someone acknowledged her. Someone respected her. The country noticed the calm summers that had occurred for the past five years. When it rained, it always came down as a gentle shower, pecking everything they touched with soft kisses.

Whenever she could, Cierra snuck out and explored the summer world with Dawn. She felt like she was Dawn’s Anna and Dawn was her Elsa, just with the opposite season. They traveled through many forests. Cierra watched Dawn call forth rain clouds and streaks of lightning. They climbed piercing mountains and observed the summer stars. There wasn’t one day they didn’t communicate. When Cierra couldn’t see her, Dawn always sent her a rainbow, even when only the sun was in the sky.

Though Dawn was never welcomed herself, she welcomed Cierra to her kingdom, and Cierra returned the invitation by accepting her as her friend.

The borderline between sky and trees slowly shifts into a navy blue with a vibrant purple and blooming red following behind, budding in the horizon as Fall invades Summer’s reign once again. The two girls gaze at the sunrise. The approaching Fall sun appears through the full trees like an observant eye, its red shade threatening in its growing heat. “I better get out before she literally kicks me out,” Dawn says softly. She heads back into the trees, holding the firefly to her chest. “Maybe I can bring this little guy with me; have someone to keep me company the next nine months.”

Cierra quickly runs to her side and places a hand on her shoulder. “Just know that no matter how much they try to simmer you away, you are not only just as strong as they are, but you’ll always have me.”

Dawn embraces her in a deep hug. “I don’t know where I’d be without you.”

Cierra hugs her back. “Friends should lift each other up, not tear each other down.” They release and look at each other. “I’ll meet you back here next summer solstice?”

“Of course!” She looks up and her smile fades. “Oh boy.”

Cierra follows her gaze and sees a few of the green leaves have already shifted hues.

“She’s here. I got to go.”

“I’ll see you soon!” Cierra says confidently.

Dawn gives her one last warm smile before running into the woods and disappearing from her sight.

Cierra turns back and spots the now orange-gold sun sitting on top of the leisurely changing leaves like a throne. She rolls her eyes as she also heads back into the forest to her home, her lungs taking in as much warm air as they can before Dawn’s sister’s reign executes the heat.